Gas gun



March 21, 1939. c. J, MANVILLE GAS GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1935 f M R w 0 m N N A N E N m W TT 5 a 1 3. M; m H M March 21, 1939. Q MANV|LLE 2,151,521

GAS GUN Filed Oct. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

CHA 7P1 8 JATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 5,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to guns and more particularly to a gun of the multiple cartridge ma azine form designed to discharge gas or fiuid projectile by the firing or explosion of cartridges or shells containing fluid producing substances.

The invention embraces the provision of a relatively small compact gun of the double action revolver type for discharging tear gas or other fluids wherein is embodied a movable cartridge magazine capable of carrying a plurality of cartridges loaded with fluid producing substance, which cartridges may be successively fired or discharged.

The invention contemplates the provision of an arrangement of this character wherein the cartridge magazine is made revoluble and wherein the magazine is positively indexed in each successive position to fire a cartridge.

The invention contemplates the provision of a fire arm of this character which will accommodate a plurality of cartridges and which will fire the cartridges successively by the manipulation of a single trigger mechanism which may be actuated repeatedly until all of the cartridges have been discharged.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cartridge carrier or magazine formed of comparatively light material whereby the weight of the gun is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved trigger control mechanism wherein the relative position of the trigger and hammer release may be accurately adjusted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for rotating the revoluble cartridge magazine and positively indexing the magazine to fire each cartridge.

A further object of the invention is the provision of safety means for preventing the firing of the pistol.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a form of gas gun of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of a gun illustrated in Figure l, a portion of the hand grip being broken away;

1935, Serial No. 43,685

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the gun illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the gun of my invention particularly illustrating the cartridge magazine and the trigger and hammer mechanism in normal position;

Figure 5 is a view of the breech and grip portion of the gun showing the trigger mechanism and hammer position just prior to release of the hammer;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is an isometric View of the trigger and hammer arrangement and cartridge magazine actuating means per se of my invention;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure 5, particularly illustrating the cartridge magazine and indexing means therefor;

Figure 9 is an isometric view illustrating the safety means to prevent firing of the gun;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through the safety means forming a part of the invention, the view being taken on line Ill-l of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the firing pin arrangement, the section being taken substantially on the line Il--ll of Figure Figure 12 is an isometric view showing the configuration of a shell or cartridge of the character utilized in the gun of my invention.

While I have shown the arrangement of my invention as designed to carry a predetermined number of cartridges, it is to be understood that I contemplate the utilization of the arrangement of my invention in any construction wherein the same may be found to be applicable.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the gun as illustrated is inclusive of a stock or handle portion in which is preferably made in two half sections i I and I2 and a barrel l3, the latter having an integrally formed rearwardly extending portion l4 which is secured to the two sections H and 12 also being held together through the handle portion by means of a screw l1.

Positioned between the barrel l3 and the breech portion 29 is a cartridge carrier or magazine 2! which is preferably fabricated of phenol condensation product or other comparatively light material, which contains a plurality of spaced cylindrical bores or chambers 22 which are adapted to contain cartridges of the character illustrated at H35 in Figure 12. The gun of my invention is illustrated as accommodating cartridges or shells substantially the size of an ordinary twelve-gauge shell of a dimension substantially 1% of an inch in diameter, although the gun may be made of a size to take shells of different size, but I have found that the size of shell illustrated accommodates a suitable charge of tear gas which has been found to be satisfactory and efiective. The magazine or cartridge carrier 2| when fabricated of Bakelite or phenol condensation product may be moulded to the desired configuration, thus eliminating machining operation upon this element of the construction. The magazine is preferably moulded with exterior flutes 23 so as to reduce the weight of the carrier element to a minimum. The magazine 2| is provided with a central longitudinally extending bore 24 which is provided at one end with an enlarged bore adapted to receive a bushing 25 of hardened steel or other suitable material which preferably has a knurled exterior surface, the bushing being preferably pressed into or moulded integrally with the magazine or cartridge carrier 2|. The bushing 25 is provided with rearwardly extending spaced projections 26 in number equal to the number of cartridge'chambers or openings in the carrier, which projections are successively engaged in a manner hereinafter described for the purpose of rotating the magazine.

Extending between the breech 28 and a depending projection 28 formed integrally with the barrel portion |3 is a shaft 29 having its rear portion threaded into the breech as at 30 so as to be fixedly secured thereto and its forward portion extending into a bore in the projection 28 and secured thereto by means of a screw 3| or other suitable means. The shaft 29 provides additional reinforcing connecting means between the barrel l3 of the gun and the breech 28 as well as to provide the means for revolubly supporting the magazine 2|. The bushing 32 is loosely journalled upon the shaft 29 adjacent the forward extremity thereof and is also loosely journalled in the bore 24 of the magazine carrier 2|. Interposed between bushing 32 and bushing 25 is an expansive spring 33 which exerts a pressure upon bushing 25 so as to yieldingly urge the magazine toward the breech of the gun so as to retain the projections 26 at all times in the path of the magazine actuating means.

The trigger and hammer mechanism carried by the stock comprises a trigger 35 which is partially slotted as at 36 to accommodate a latch element 38. The trigger 35 is pivoted upon a pin 39 in the breech portion, the pin passing through an opening 48 in the trigger. The walls of the trigger formed by the slot 36 are provided with openings which are in registration with an opening in the latch member 38 and which receive a member 42. The member 42 is formed with an upwardly extending portion 43 having a tapered upper extremity which forms the actuating means engageable with the projections 26 on the bushing 25 to actuate or rotate the cartridge magazine 2| during a portion of movement of the trigger 35, the projecting portion 43 extending loosely through a vertical slot 44 formed in the breech portion of member i as particularly illustrated in Figure 6. Thus, the latch member 38 is connected to the trigger member by means also form- 7 ing the actuating means for the cartridge magazine.

The upper extremity of the latch member 38 is provided with a projection 45 which engages a downwardly extending projection 46 forming a part of the hammer 47, the latter being pivoted upon a pin 43 passing through an opening 49 in the hammer, the extremities of the pin projecting into interior openings in the portions I and I2 of the stock of the gun. The latch member 38 is provided with an opening 50 which receives one end of a contractile spring 5|, the other end of which is connected to a pin 52 carried by the stock portion ll of the gun, the function of the spring 5| being to return the latch 38 to its normal position upon returnof the trigger to normal position after the firing of 'a cartridge.

As illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the portion H is provided with a laterally extending boss 55 which is provided with aligned bores 56, 5'! and 58 as particularly shown in an enlarged view in Figure 11, the bore 56 receiving the firing pin 60 which has an enlarged portion 6| and a still further enlarged rear fiange 62. A coil spring 63 is positioned in the bore 57 between flange 62 and the end wall of the bore and serves to normally urge the firing pin 60 away from the cartridges in the magazine 2|. A laterally positioned screw 65 is carried by the stock portion H, the head of the screw 65 serving to hold the firing pin within the bore 56 in the breech portion of the gun and thus serves to limit the rearward movement of the firing pin.

In order to retain the magazine actuating member 43 in engagement with the bushing 25, there is provided a U-shaped or hair pin spring 69, one end of which projects into an opening 10 in the interior side wall of the stock portion the free extremity having a projecting portion H which engages the member 43. With the trigger and hammer mechanism in normal position as illustrated in Figure 4, the magazine actuating member 43 does not contact with bushing 25, its movement being limited by means of a pin 12 so that upon movement of the trigger 35 and upward movement of the magazine actuating member 43, the pin will direct the latter into engagement with one of the projections 26 to partially rotate the cartridge magazine. The hammer 47 is urged into engagement with the firing pin at all times by means of a comparatively stiif plate spring 14, one end of which engages the hammer, the other end being positioned between two projecting lugs 15 formed on the lower portion of the stock portion II.

The latch member 38 is provided with a forwardly extending finger 11 which cooperates in a manner to be hereinafter explained with a series of steps 78 formed on the rear portion of the cartridge magazine as particularly shown in Figures 5 and 8, there being a number of indentations or steps corresponding to the number of cartridge chambers. The purpose of finger portion 1'! is to positively index or position the cartridge inagazine so that each individual shell in firing position will be in an accurate location in registry with the barrel I3.

The latch member 38 is provided with a depending portion 86 which when the trigger has been moved a predetermined amount is engaged by a member 8| threaded into a bore 82 in the trigger, the threaded member 8| having a kerf 83 adapted to receive a suitable tool for adjusting the position of the threaded member 8|. The function of screw BI is to determine the position of release of the firing hammer when the trigger 35 is moved slightly beyond the position of the mechanism as illustrated in Figure 5. The trigger 35 is also provided with a threaded opening to receive a screw 85 which serves to lock the adjusting screw 8| in proper position.

.Number 12 gauge for shot gun purposes.

The gun of my invention embodies a safety means for preventing firing of the gun which consists in a stud shaft 8? journalled in a transversely extending bore in the breech portion of the stock I l, the shaft having an enlarged head portion 88. The extremity of the stud 81 is cut away to form a fiat surface 89 as particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 9. The stock portion H is provided with a recess 90 (see Figure 3) which accommodates the head portion 88 of the safety device, the stock portion also being provided with an arcuate depression 92 as illustrated in Figure 10. Extending transversely of the head portion 88 is a bore 93 within which is arranged a plunger 9 having a reduced portion 95 and a knurled finger piece 96. Surrounding the portion 95 and positioned in the bore 93 is an expansive spring 97 which serves to urge the plunger ed in the direction of the arcuate groove 52, the plunger 9d being formed with a ball like extremity 98 which projects into the groove 92. The arcuate groove 92 is of a length to permit about ninety degrees of rotative movement of the stud 8] so as to bring the safety means into position to prevent firing of the pistol. For example, referring to Figure 5, if the stud 81 is moved through ninety degrees by means of manipulation of a finger piece 96 (see Figure 10), the stud will be rotated bringing the fiat surface 89 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thus bringing the cylindrical part of the stud 81 into position to engage the hammer 41 should the trigger of the gun be retracted and thus prevent the hammer from striking the flange 62 upon the end of the firing pin.

The assembly of the safety means is accomplished in a simple manner as it is only necessary to retract the plunger 94 by grasping the finger piece until the rounded end 98 is withdrawn from the groove 92 after which the stud 81 and head 88 may be Withdrawn laterally from the transverse bore in the breech of the gun.

I have found it desirable to form each bore or chamber in the cartridge magazine with a pro- 1 jection 53 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the

purpose of the projection 53 being to prevent the injection of lethal shells of the same caliber into the gun. It is to be understood that the inclusion of projections of this nature in the cartridge chambers are not absolutely necessary except as a safety factor in the use of the gun.

In order to facilitate loading the magazine with cartridges or shells, one of which is illustrated in Figure 12, I have provided the breech portion 1 with a depression or recess Hi0 which is of a dimension suitable to permit the passage of cartridges into the magazine. In order to retain the cartridges in the magazine, I have provided a movable finger piece liil pivoted upon a screw it? carried by the breech of the gun, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. When it is desired to extrude empty cartridge shells or reload the gun, th finger piece it! is moved to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6 so as to leave the depression we unobstructed.

Figure 12 illustrates a form of cartridge suitable for use in the gun of my invention comprising a cylindrical portion 35 and a flange portion Edi} similar in size to the ordinary type of shell of As illustrated, the shell is provided with a longitudinally extending depression or indentation l0! which will permit the projection of the shell into a bore of the magazine as the depression I01 will receive the projection 53, thus preventing the surtherein.

reptitious use of shells not intended to be used I have found that shells of this size containing tear gas of the character known as chloracetophenone in Which the chemical in crystalline form is placed in the shell of this size has been found effective and satisfactory as when the shell is discharged substantially all of the crystalline chemical becomes volatile under the heat of gun powder or other explosive which is placed adjacent the percussion cap on the base of the shell and serves to extrude the crystalling chemical substantially all in volatile or gas form.

The rear portion of the cartridge magazine 2i is sufilcienty spaced from the breech to snugly accommodate the flanges [06 of the shells, thus virtually making the rear portion of the magazine substantially gas tight so that little or no gas is extruded at this point during the explosion of the cartridge.

It is to be noted that the bore in the barrel l3 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated is slightly larger in diameter than the bores of the cartridge chambers, thus permitting for expansion of the heated gas during the explosion of the cartridge, although it is to be understood that the bore of the barrel I3 may be made the same size as the bore of the cartridge chamber without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The operation of the gun or" my invention is as follows: Assuming that it is first desired to load the gun with cartridges of the character shown in Figure 12, the finger piece Nil is swung manually to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, after which the cartridges may be inserted through the depression or recess iili into the several bores 22 of the cartridge magazine 25, the cartridge magazine being rotated manually to bring the several bores successively into registration with depression Hit to receive the cartridges. after which the finger piece It is returned to its normal or closed position as illustrated in full lines in Figure 6 which prevents the removal of the cartridges from the magazine. In order to fire the gun, it is necessary that thesafety means be moved to ineffective position, that is, with the shaft of the safety means moved to the position shown in Figures 4 and 6 with the finger piece 96 in a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 10 so that the plane of the flattened portion 89 is parallel with the face of the firing hammer 6?. In such position, the firing hammer is permitted to impinge upon the firing pin 8% so that a cartridge may be fired. When it is desired to fire a cartridge, the trigger 35 is moved rearwardly by the forefinger of the operator, the rearward movement of the trigger causing the member &3 to first engage with a projection 22; formed on bushing 25, which rotates with the cartridge magazine 2!, this movement of the trigger mov" ing the cartridge magazine one-fifth of its rotation to bring the next succeeding cartridge into firing position. As the trigger is moved rearwardly, the finger 51- forming a part of the latch 38 is moved into the path of the indentations '13 formed exteriorly of the cartridge magazine, the finger piece ll acting as an indexing means which engages a wall it on the cartridge magazine to properly index the latter in cartridge firing position, the position of the respective parts being shown in Figure 5 with the trigger moved to a rearward or firing position. As the trigger is moved rearwardly, the upper portion of latch member 38 engages the depending portion it of the firing hammer causing the firing hammer to rotate about its pivot 58 against the tension of the plate spring 74.

member so that further slight rearward movement of the trigger causes a release or disengagementof the latch member; 38 with: the depending tween said triggerand said latch member for portion of the firing hammer :46, at which time the firingjhammer 41 under the infiuenceof'the force of the plate spring; 74. is caused to rapidly impinge upon the flangeEZ of the firing pin Gil driving the latter forwardto, impinge upon the percussion cap which causes the discharge or firing of the teargas cartridge. lifter the firing of a-cartridge, the fingerpressur'e upon trigger is released and the trigger is returned to, itsv Y 'normal'position as shown in Figure under the [influence of the contractile: spring 5i engagingthe latch member 38. It is to be noted that the .ha'irpinspring 69 at all times engages the member- 43 so that-upon successive, actuation of the I trigger, the member 43 willca'use a partial rotation ofthe cartridge magazine, to successive caring of the cartridge magazine, the screw 88 being, locked in position by means of the screw 85.

tridgefiring position. 'The operation above described isrepeated until all the cartridges have been fired, after which the finger piece Ill! may i be moved to the dotted position again as shown in Figure 6 to permit the removal of the empty shells or cartridge g l Y r It isto be noted that'the release of the hammer 1 may be: accurately coordinated with 'the'indexing of the magazine chamber by means of the ad-, dusting screw Bl which is properly adjusted to engage the latch 38 immediately after the indexa -When' it is desired to move the safetymeans to safety position, as indicated'in dotted linesin Figure-5 wherein theplaneof the flattened surface 89 is moved to a position parallel with the axis of the cartridge magazine, the cylindrical portion of the shaft 81 is thereby moved in the path of the firing hammer 41 so that the latter is prevented from engaging the flange 62 of the firing pin 60. This rotation of the safety means is accomplished by moving the finger piece 96 through an arc of 90 degrees as particularly shown in Figure 10. One of the features of the invention resides in the assembly of the safety means. For example, when it is desired to remove the safety means for any reason, it is only necessary to exert a longitudinal movement in a direction of the axis of the finger piece 95 against the force of spring 95 so as to withdraw the balllike portion 98 from engagement with the arcuate recess 92, after which a longitudinal force in the direction of the axis of shaft 81 causes the safety means to be withdrawn from the bore in the stock portion of the gun. To reassemble the safety means, it is only necessary to exert a lateral pressure against the heat 88 in the direction of the axis of shaft 8'! and the ball portion 98 will a When the trigger has been moved to its rearmost position in which the -fin-. ger T! has properly indexed thecartrid-ge magaizine, the end of the screw 8| carried by thetrig er engages the depending portion. 8! of the latch having a breech portion; a barrel spaced from and the stock; a shaft connecting said stock and barrel members; said cartridge carrier being iournalled' upon said shaft; a trigger pivoted to said stock; a firing hammer pivoted to said stock; .a. latch member pivotally carried by said trigger and arranged to engage. and actuate sai'dfiringhammer toward cocked position; adjustable means carried by'said trigger 'andlocated bereleasing said hammer upon a predetermined ger; and means forming an integral part of said ,latch member for-indexing said cartridge car'- rier upon each successivemovement of: said trigger.

L2. In ajgas gun, the combinationof a stocks a barrelconnected to but. spaced; from; said stock 1 g and having a cylindrical bore; a magazine hav-.'

ing a plurality of'cartridge chambers-therein.ro

jmeans urging said cartridge magazine toward ,saidstock; the bore in the barrel-being of. a diam eter larger than that of a; cartridge chamber in i t j said magazine;

3. In a gasgun, the combination of a stock said breech portion and having. an extension secured to said breech portion;v a shaft connecting said barrel and said stock; a jrevoluble cartridge magazine supported. upon said shaft between said barrel and said breech portionysaidcartridge magazine having peripherally arranged index-in dentations; a finger trigger; a hammer; .a firing pin; resilient means for normally urging Said hammer in contact with'said firing pin; a menu ber pivotally connected'to said trigger andhaving a portion engageable with said hammer for retracting and releasing the latter to engage the firing pin upon movement of the trigger and another portion movable into the path of the indentations on said cartridge magazine for indexing the latter; and adjustable means carried by said trigger and engageable with said member for determining the coordination of the magazine indexing portion and the release of the hammer.

4. In a gas gun, the combination of a stock having a breech portion; a barrel spaced from said breech portion and having an extension secured to said breech portion; a shaft connecting said barrel and said stock; a revoluble cartridge magazine supported upon said shaft between said barrel and said breech portion; said cartridge magazine having peripherally arranged indentations; a finger trigger; a hammer having a ledge; a firing pin; resilient means for normally urging said hammer in contact with said firing pin; a member connected to said finger trigger for revolving said cartridge magazine; a second member pivotally supported by said finger trigger and having a portion engageable with said ledge on the hammer for retracting the hammer and having a second portion movable into the path of the indentations on said cartridge magazine for retaining the latter in position with respect to the firing pin; and adjusable means carried by said finger trigger and engageable with said second member for determining the coordination of disengagement of said second mentioned member with the hammer ledge and the engagement of the second portion thereof with tatably supported between said barrel and stock} trigger mechanism means associated with said trigger mechanism for successively causing. ro-

} tative movement of said magazine; resilient t 1 the indexing indentations of the cartridge magazine.

5. In a gas gun, the combination of a stock having a breech portion; a barrel spaced from said breech portion and having an extension secured to said breech portion; a shaft connecting said barrel and said stock; a revoluble cartridge magazine supported upon said shaft between said barrel and said breech portion; said cartridge magazine having peripherally arranged index indentations; a finger trigger; a hammer; a firing pin; resilient means for normally urging said hammer in contact with said firing pin; a memher pivotally connected to said trigger and having a portion engageable with said hammer for retracting and releasing the latter to engage the firing pin upon movement of the trigger and another portion movable into the path of the in-' dentations on said cartridge magazine for indexing the latter; adjustable means carried by said trigger and engageable with said member for determining the coordination of the magazine indexing portion and the release of the hammer; and means carried by said trigger for locking the adjustable means in predetermined position.

CHARLES J. MANVILLE. 

